Observation and Layering : Hallmark Skills of Expert Pilates Teaching
Modern Level 3 Pilates Matwork qualifications do not require instructors to do more than teach Pilates Matwork Repertoire in the whole. This omission is a major impediment to the new instructor wishing to do more than be a group exercise instructor focussing on large group Matwork Pilates, or indeed limit a fitness trained Pilates Reformer instructor from understanding more than the teaching of a group class on the Pilates Reformer.
Over the years I have seen how so many Pilates instructor
training schools fail to recognise the value of Joseph Pilates’ Method. In a rush to
create Contemporary Repertoire and dismiss the Classical repertoire they
completely miss the core teaching skills that set apart a Pilates technician and
true Pilates educator, from a Fitness Professional pivoting their Personal
Training or Group Exercise teaching skills from the Gym or Health Club to the
Pilates studio.
Two of the most overlooked yet essential skills—particularly
for those unfamiliar with the full Method as Joseph Pilates intended it: are observation
and layering.
These aren’t ‘add-ons’ to a session plan or buzzwords to be
thrown into cueing. They are central to everything an expert Pilates instructor
does: from assessing the body in front of them to choosing how, when and why to
teach each movement.
Whether working with pre-Pilates clients, new beginners, or experienced movers, the skills of observation and layering allow the teacher to deliver a session that is not only intelligent but also restorative, progressive, and entirely personalised.
Observation: Seeing Beyond the Movement
Observation begins with watching; but in the Pilates Method,
it goes much deeper.
The skilled instructor doesn’t just see that a leg lifts or
a spine flexes; they note how it does so:
- Is
the movement initiated from the correct place?
- Is
there over-reliance on momentum or gravity?
- Is
the client bypassing muscular control in favour of a familiar but
dysfunctional pattern?
They watch breath, posture, tension, sequencing, focus. They
identify strain before it becomes discomfort. They notice when a body cheats, often
unconsciously, using compensation strategies developed over years.
Through observation, the instructor gleans the information needed to adjust the session in real time. But this is not simply about correction; it’s about understanding the why behind a movement and responding in a way that deepens the client’s understanding from within.
Layering: Teaching the Body What it Needs to Remember
Layering is how observation becomes action. It exists in two
forms : both vital.
1. Reconstructive Layering: Strip Back to Build Forward
This form of layering is led by what the instructor
observes. If a client struggles with a full complex exercise: say, The
Hundred, the answer is not to force repetition but to strip the exercise
back to its component parts. This might involve:
- Isolating
the breath
- Addressing
the thoracic flexion separately from the leg position
- Practising
imprinting or pelvic control in isolation
- Using
props such as bands or weights to bring awareness to faulty recruitment
patterns
This deconstruction isn’t regression for its own sake. It’s
targeted and intelligent. The instructor then rebuilds the movement
gradually, layering challenges back in once foundational control is
re-established. And importantly, this progression may unfold over multiple
sessions, not within the span of a single hour.
2. Instructional Layering: Structuring the Teaching
Process
The second type of layering is more pedagogical. It’s about how
to teach an exercise in real time:
- First,
get the client moving with minimal instruction
- Then
introduce breath
- Then
cue one or two key focuses
- Later,
offer corrections or refinements
This method respects the client’s capacity for learning; acknowledging
that too much information too soon is not only overwhelming, but can be
counterproductive. It also allows the body to find the movement organically
before being intellectually overloaded.
Together, these two forms of layering allow a teacher to both restore and refine. They enable a Pilates session that is responsive, progressive, and grounded in the Method, rather than one driven by choreography or showmanship.
Case Study: Loraine Prokopiou Demonstrates Layering in The Hundred
To bring this to life, we’re sharing a 20-minute video
featuring Loraine Prokopiou an Mbodies instructor trainer and
Physiotherapist whose professional background and practice embraces ‘The Method’. She works in the video with Ruby, a relative
novice to Pilates.
Using The Hundred as her chosen exercise, Loraine
demonstrates both forms of layering in a clear, thoughtful way:
- She
deconstructs the movement in response to what she sees in Ruby’s
execution.
- She
uses bands, weights and other props to overload regressions and
sharpen proprioception.
- She
gradually rebuilds the movement toward its full form, teaching not only
Ruby but the viewer how to address underlying issues before moving on.
This clip is part of the new Mbodies Training Academy CPD
series, developed for instructors who wish to revisit the Fundamentals,
re-engage with the original Pilates Method, and refine the essential teaching
skills that underpin it. It also forms
a part of the New Mbodies Comprehensive Hybrid learning of the Pilates Method, available to those aspiring to teach ‘The Method’ as well as those moving on
from a first qualification in Pilates to complete comprehensive training.
Applicable Across Mat and Apparatus
Though demonstrated using Matwork, the principles discussed:
observation, layering, responsiveness, are equally relevant across the full
range of Pilates apparatus. In fact, the Reformer's spring feedback or the
Cadillac's support systems can make layering even more precise and intelligent
when applied with purpose, and substitute for the accessories Loraine uses in
the video clip to emulate these other machines.
A Call to Revisit the Fundamentals
Too many Pilates instructors were never taught the Method in
its full context. Others may have learned pieces of it but have lost confidence
in how to apply its principles to real bodies with real limitations.
If you're ready to revisit the Fundamentals, to
explore why observation and layering matters, and to bring fresh clarity
to your teaching eye, we invite you to watch Loraine’s segment on The
Hundred and consider enrolling in the new CPD when it goes live in Autumn
2025
You may find that returning to the roots of the Method
offers the strongest foundation for future growth.
Author: Chris Onslow - Pilates Consultant
Chris Onslow, has run Pilates focussed businesses since 1998. He and his team specialise in supporting Pilates entrepreneurs and business owners. With a rich history of owning and running successful Pilates studios in the UK, and supporting others in Europe and the Middle East, Chris has broad expertise in maximising profitability and optimising operational efficiency. His agency provides top-tier advice on selecting new, pre-owned, and hireable Pilates equipment from renowned brands such as Align-Pilates, Balanced Body or Stott-Pilates/Merrithew. As the founder of Mbodies Training Academy, Chris continues to revolutionise Pilates education, offering premier online and hybrid CPD and qualification courses for Pilates apparatus instruction and special population CPD. Discover more about how Chris can support your Pilates Business or home exercise choices:
Pilates Business Specialist Consultant
Phone: +44 (0)1993 883449
Whatsapp text +44(0)7301052846
20 Nash Lane, Freeland, Witney, Oxon, OX29 8HS, UK
Web: https://www.pilates-consultant.co.uk/ (Pilates Consultancy, Apparatus sales and hire)
Email: chris@pilatesconsultant.co.uk
Web: https//www.mbodiesacademy.co.uk/ (Instructor training)
Email: chris@mbodiesacademy.co.uk
Web: https://mbodies.thinkific.com/ (Online Training Portal)
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